Dream Team

THIS is an uncomfortable conversation.It may be the case that no Dream Team player in history has had more credit in the bank than Mohamed Salah (£7.5m) does right now.That being said, it’s time for gaffers to question whether Liverpool’s No11 is still worthy of his place in a competitive XI.Say it ain’t soCredit: Dream TeamSalah is by far and away the top performer this season with 462 points to his name, 105 more than his closest rival.He’s scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions as the leader in both key metrics.Just three weeks ago, the faintest whisper of doubt about Salah’s viability would have been shot down by any right-minded Dream Team manager.But things change quickly in this game and not even the most dominant players are immune from fluctuations in form.Salah has mustered just 11 points from his last four games in a run that has featured just two shots on target.The goals have dried up for Dream Team’s outright top performerCredit: AlamySALAH’S FORM DIPGameweek 27: 3 pts v PSG (h)Gameweek 28: 2 pts v Newcastle (h)Gameweek 29: 4 pts v Everton (h)Gameweek 30: 2 pts v Fulham (a)Given the Egyptian superstar averages 10.3 points-per-game across 2024/25 as a whole, his recent returns have been bitterly disappointing.Most read in FootballSalah’s dwindling form is not the only cause for concern as the schedule also demands attention.Arne Slot’s side remain heavy favourites to lift the Premier League trophy but they suffered notable defeats in the other three competitions in the space of five dramatic weeks.Liverpool’s defeat to PSG has had a significant knock-on effectCredit: GettyIn February, the Reds were upset by Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round while March saw them humbled by PSG in the Champions League prior to defeat in the Carabao Cup final at the hands of Newcastle.Consequently, Liverpool have a maximum of seven fixtures remaining before the end of the season.This fixture deficit will be starkly apparent in the coming days when Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea will all fulfil European quarter-final first legs while Salah and friends twiddle their thumbs.Furthermore, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Aston Villa all have an additional domestic fixture over Liverpool in the form of an FA Cup semi-final, with two progressing to the final.Simply put, Salah has fewer point-scoring opportunities ahead of him than several other productive talents.Dream Team bosses will be reluctant to ditch SalahCredit: AFPReduced returns combined with a relatively relaxed schedule would usually be enough for Dream Team bosses to lose patience with an individual but Salah’s immense record means this is not a decision to take lightly.It would not come as a surprise if the prolific 32-year-old banked shed-loads of points against West Ham and Leicester across Gameweeks 31 and 32.Read More on The SunHowever, there are enough factors to justify what would have previously been viewed as an unthinkable transfer.Salah is currently the most popular player in the game with an ownership of 61.5% – nobody else features in the majority of teams – but it will be interesting to see if that’s still the case in a fortnight’s time.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

SUCH is the nature of Tottenham’s season that even their wins are tarnished to some degree.The North Londoners condemned Southampton to relegation on Sunday thanks to a Brennan Johnson (£2.8m) brace but the Wales international was visibly upset at full time having been denied the chance to score his first hat-trick for the club.Johnson produced two accomplished finishes but wasn’t given the chance to bag a hat-trickCredit: ReutersJohnson produced two excellent finishes in the first half, the first an emphatic strike and the second a deft effort of considerable composure.When he suckered Saints defender Welington into an ill-judged challenge in the box deep into stoppage time, it looked for all the world as if he would end up taking the match ball home.With Spurs leading and first-choice penalty taker Son Heung-min (£4.5m) having been substituted, Johnson clearly expected to take the spot-kick he earned.However, after a discussion that involved several players, Mathys Tel (£3.1m) took charge and converted the penalty, much to Johnson’s frustration.Tel scored from the spot in stoppage timeCredit: PADespite this missed opportunity, the 23-year-old banked 19 Dream Team points when all was said and done as he was credited with a fantasy assist for his side’s third goal having drawn the foul.He is Gameweek 30’s top performer as it stands.MOST POINTS EARNED IN GAMEWEEK 30 SO FAR19 pts – Brennan Johnson16 pts – Evanilson16 pts – Alex Iwobi15 pts – Mateus Fernandes12 pts – Pablo SarabiaMost read in FootballJohnson is the only player in the top five with another fixture to fulfil before the end of the Gameweek.Ange Postecoglou’s side are due to host Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night.Johnson may have earned a promotion in the pecking orderCredit: RexThe Australian coach has varied his team selections all season long but Johnson’s impressive brace has surely improved his chances of starting against the Bundesliga outfit.The former Nottingham Forest man has jumped up to 11th in the midfield rankings, with a total of 229 points to his name.With 16 goals in all competitions, he is Tottenham’s top scorer this season.In fact, only four Dream Team assets have scored more goals in 2024/25 to date.Add in seven assists and Johnson’s output is certainly not to be sniffed at, even if he has blown hot and cold throughout the campaign.The Europa League is Postecoglou’s last possible route to a trophy this seasonCredit: ReutersHaving grabbed the headlines at the weekend, Johnson has to be considered a viable option for Gameweek 31, when Spurs will travel to Wolves before the second leg of their European quarter-final in Frankfurt.They are one of just seven clubs set to pull double duty next Gameweek.The main limiting factor to his viability is that his minutes are far from assured.JOHNSON’S GAME TIME SINCE GAMEWEEK 2745 minutes vs Bournemouth (h)12 minutes vs AZ Alkmaar (h)45 minutes vs Fulham (a)26 minutes vs Chelsea (a)90 minutes vs Southampton (h)For many gaffers, those numbers simply won’t do – players can’t earn points if they’re not on the pitch.Read More on The SunWho will line up in Spurs’ front three against Frankfurt?Credit: ReutersBut if Johnson does get the nod in Gameweek 31 then he may well add to his healthy goal tally.Thursday night’s game in North London will give Dream Team bosses a clearer indication of Postecoglou’s pecking order before the deadline.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news for Gameweek 30 in one convenient location.Gabriel has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and is due to undergo surgery on his hamstring after limping off against Fulham in the week.Gabriel will be a big miss for ArsenalCredit: Dream TeamThe Arsenal centre-back currently ranks fifth among defenders and still appears in 12.8% of teams at the time of writing.The Gunners have other problems at the back with Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu still sidelined.Mikel Arteta and his team will make late decisions on Jurrien Timber and Ben White – both are considered doubts at this stage.As for Arsenal’s weekend opponents, long-term absentee Dwight McNeil could be included in Everton’s squad having returned to training this week.Iliman Ndiaye made his comeback as a substitute against Liverpool last time out.Erling Haaland, one of just three players to have earned 300+ points this season, is estimated to be out for between five and seven weeks with an ankle injury.Haaland faces a spell on the sidelinesCredit: REXManchester City’s No9 is by far and away the most transferred-out player ahead of the deadline but such was his immense popularity, he remains the third-most selected player at present!Abdukodir Khusanov was absent from the squad against Leicester in Gameweek 29 but the Uzbek defender was merely rested.Most read in FootballAnge Postecoglou confirmed that Micky van de Ven suffered cramp and nothing more serious in the final moments of Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea on Thursday.Richarlison has a chance of making the matchday squad when Spurs host Southampton on Sunday but key player Dejan Kulusevski is still not ready to return.Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola told reporters that it will be “difficult” for Justin Kluivert to make the trip to West Ham this weekend.The Dutch midfielder’s ownership was close to 20% before his setback but has now halved as a result.Kluivert is one of several popular Dream Team assets deemed unavailable for Gameweek 30Credit: AlamyEddie Howe was characteristically vague when discussing the condition of Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier.Speaking in his morning press conference, the Newcastle coach said: “I will see them for the first time today. We don’t think we have any big injuries from Wednesday night, but we have a few niggles.”The Swedish striker was substituted in midweek due to a groin complaint.Anthony Gordon is no longer suspended but he is a major doubt having not trained with his team-mates since withdrawing from the England squad during the international break.Only two defenders average more points-per-game than Ola Aina this season but the Nottingham Forest right-back will be unavailable “for a while” having incurred a calf injury.Callum Hudson-Odoi is available to face Aston Villa but Chris Wood faces a late assessment and therefore remains a major doubt.Isak’s groin troubled him against BrentfordCredit: GettyArne Slot confirmed that Alisson will return in goal for Liverpool as soon as the Brazilian satisfies the concussion protocols.Kobbie Mainoo may return in some capacity for Manchester United in Gameweek 30 but Ruben Amorim ruled out a start for the teenager in Sunday’s derby.Matthijs de Ligt is a doubt for the Red Devils.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWARSENALInjuries: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber (doubt), Ben White (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Ross Barkley (doubt), Leon BaileySuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Enes Unal, Luis Sinisterra, Justin Kluivert (doubt), Marcus Tavernier Suspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Igor Thiago, Rico Henry (doubt), Fabio Carvalho, Mathias Jensen (doubt)Suspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: James Milner, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jason Steele, Igor Julio, Georginio Rutter, Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Joel VeltmanSuspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: Marc Guiu (doubt), Romeo Lavia, Wesley FofanaSuspensions: Mykhailo MudrykCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Chris Richards (doubt)Suspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Dwight McNeil (doubt), Orel Mangala, Dominic Calvert-LewinSuspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson, Harry WilsonSuspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: Chiedozie Ogbene, Wes Burns, Sammie Szmodics, Omari Hutchinson (doubt), Leif Davis (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Abdul FatawuSuspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley (doubt), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Rodri, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Erling HaalandSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo, Ayden HeavenSuspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Kieran Trippier (doubt), Alexander Isak (doubt), Anthony Gordon (doubt)Suspensions: Anthony GordonNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Chris Wood (doubt), Ola AinaSuspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Ross Stewart (doubt), Juan Larios (doubt), Will Smallbone, Ryan Manning, Lesley Ugochukwu (doubt), Paul Onuachu (doubt)Suspensions: Flynn DownesTOTTENHAMInjuries: Radu Dragusin, Richarlison (doubt), Dejan Kulusevski, Kevin DansoSuspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus (doubt), Crysencio SummervilleSuspensions: NoneWOLVESRead More on The SunInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera, Leon ChiwoneSuspensions: Matheus Cunha More

DREAM TEAM managers must remember to select a captain for Gameweek 30 before Saturday’s 11am deadline.Thanks to Mohamed Salah’s (£7.7m) supremacy and Erling Haaland’s (£7.8m) relentless hunger for goals, this task has been a relatively straightforward one for much of the season but this week’s decision is arguably the most difficult of 2024/25 so far.Salah has been quiet in his last three outingsCredit: GettyWith Liverpool out of the Champions League, their prolific No11 has just one fixture this coming Gameweek in the form of Fulham away.And whisper it quietly but Salah’s level has dropped of late as he’s returned just nine points from his last three outings.As for Manchester City’s No9, he’s facing several weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury.His replacement, Omar Marmoush (£4.6m), appears to be the real deal but again, Pep Guardiola’s side do not have a midweek Champions League fixture to enhance their schedule.The best captain is likely to come from the clubs still active in Europe: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea.But who?Over his slump?Credit: GettyCole Palmer (£5.4m) looked refreshed against Spurs in Gameweek 29 when he provided a sumptuous cross for what proved to be Enzo Fernandez’s (£3.9m) winner.The 22-year-old’s first goal involvement since early February helped him claim eight points, enough for him to regain his place as Dream Team’s second-best midfielder overall.Most read in FootballThe Blues haven’t fully recaptured the impressive form they exhibited throughout the first third of the campaign but five wins from their last six games in all competitions represents an encouraging upturn.Gameweek 30 brings a double header against Brentford (h) and Legia Warsaw (a), the latter being a Conference League quarter-final first leg.Palmer featured in both legs of the last 16 tie with Copenhagen and so his owners should be hopeful of substantial minutes against the Polish side on Thursday evening.The England international averages 8.6 points-per-game in 2024/25 and his showing against Spurs hinted that his slump may be behind him.Captain material?Credit: GettyBruno Fernandes (£7m) remains Dream Team’s most in-form player and must therefore be considered a viable captaincy option once again.The Red Devils are due to face Man City on Sunday before travelling to Lyon in the Europa League in midweek.Truth be told, that’s a relatively tricky double header given Ruben Amorim’s side currently sit 13th in the Premier League but the Portuguese playmaker has proven himself capable of healthy returns in losing efforts.Elsewhere, might Bukayo Saka (£6.6m) be the answer to this week’s captaincy conundrum?Arsenal’s No7 marked his return from injury in fine style when he scored against Fulham seven minutes after coming off the bench in Gameweek 29.Saka is the most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 30Credit: GettyOnly Salah averages more points-per-game than Saka this season; his output is not an issue.It’s just whether his surgically-repaired hamstring is up to starting two games in the space of four days.The Gunners will visit Everton before welcoming Real Madrid to the Emirates.Tottenham’s double header of Southampton and Frankfurt looks inviting on paper but Ange Postecoglou appears increasingly frazzled and so Dream Team bosses will be reluctant to go there.Thinking outside the box, gaffers could ignore the European fixtures altogether and select a captain with an ultra favourable league opponent.This strategy seemingly points directly at Alexander Isak (£6.2m), who has racked up 291 points via 24 goals, ahead of Newcastle trip to Leicester.Isak could feast against Leicester… if availableCredit: ReutersThe Foxes are statistically the most out-of-form team in the top flight right now having lost seven in a row.However, this ploy may be scuppered by the fact the Magpies’ top scorer is considered a minor doubt for Gameweek 30.Eddie Howe told reporters that he would wait to see how Isak came through Friday’s training session before making a final decision, which doesn’t help Dream Team managers.Theoretically, one could captain Isak and then lean on their vice captain if the Swedish striker didn’t feature at the King Power.Read More on The SunAlthough this approach risks a situation in which Isak plays a handful of minutes without adding meaningful points.Palmer, Fernandes and Saka appear to be the frontrunners but this may be the most open captaincy conversation of the entire season.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

THE winner of Score Predictor Matchweek 26 will bank £250 in cold, hard cash.Well, it’ll actually be a bank transfer but that doesn’t sound as good even though it’s far more convenient.Play Score Predictor now ahead of Matchweek 26Credit: Dream TeamSimply enter your predictions for the five selected Premier League games and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the action unfolds.If you earn the most points then you’ll claim the cash prize!PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR NOW!Allow us to present some key stats and facts for each relevant fixture to help inform your decisions…Brentford v ChelseaScore Predictor users would probably be wise to wait until after the Blues have faced Spurs before submitting a prediction for their Sunday fixture but we can analyse other factors in the meantime.Enzo Maresca’s side won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in December but the Bees have generally been a bogey team in recent years.In fact, Chelsea haven’t won at the Gtech Stadium since 2021.That being said, Brentford’s home form has taken a dramatic dive of late with only Southampton and Leicester having earned fewer points in front of their own fans across the last six fixtures.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawMost read in FootballCole Palmer has been passed fitCredit: GettyFulham v LiverpoolWith no other commitments for the remainder of the season, the Reds can solely focus on their march to Premier League glory.Victory in Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby maintained their 12-point lead at the top of the table and it’s really just a matter of when their triumph is officially confirmed from this point onwards.Impressively, Liverpool are the only team yet to lose a league game away from home this season.As for the Cottagers, it’s been a case of one-on-one-off lately with three wins and three defeats in their last six league outings.They were beaten by Arsenal in midweek and while they played very well at Anfield earlier in the campaign, the smart money has to be on the visitors.Fulham have performed well this season but have won just six of their 15 league games at Craven Cottage.Our Prediction: 2-1 to LiverpoolLiverpool are cruising towards the titleCredit: PATottenham v SouthamptonAnge Postecoglou’s troops play at Stamford Bridge tonight and the Australian tactician will already have one eye on the Europa League quarter-finals.There is a risk Spurs take a home game against Saints for granted; let’s not forget both Ipswich and Leicester won in North London this season.On Wednesday night, it looked for all the world that Southampton were going to claim a rare victory over an in-form Crystal Palace side but Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time equaliser denied the St Mary’s faithful that joy.There aren’t many Spurs fans who would be surprised if they were to drop points on Sunday but Score Predictor users will find it hard to commit to anything other than a home win of some variety given Southampton have just ten points to their name at this late stage of the campaign.Our Prediction: 2-0 to SpursSpurs are predictably unpredictableCredit: GettyManchester United v Manchester CityLate goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo meant the Red Devils pulled off a classic smash and grab in December’s Manchester derby at the Etihad but will lightning strike twice?Pep Guardiola’s side have failed to win half their league games this season – something almost inconceivable in years gone by – but still they remain 14 points and nine places above their neighbours in the table.In truth, United have nothing to play for in the league except pride with the Europa League being their last trophy hope but motivation shouldn’t be a problem on derby day.In his limited meetings with Guardiola to date, Ruben Amorim has got the upper hand but his side will start as underdogs this weekend.Erling Haaland will be missing for the visitors but Omar Marmoush has hit the ground running since his Janaury transfer from Frankfurt.A difficult one to predict with both teams below par in 2024/25.Our Prediction: 3-2 to Man CityMarmoush will lead the line while Haaland is sidelinedCredit: RexLeicester v NewcastleThe Foxes slipped to 19th in midweek and are currently the most out-of-form side in the top flight having lost seven in a row without scoring a single goal in response.The harsh reality is that Leicester are sinking closer and closer to Southampton with each passing game.It’s difficult to envision anything other than more misery for Ruud van Nistelrooy on Monday night when Alexander Isak and friends come to town.Buoyed by their Carabao Cup triumph, the Magpies are now targeting Champions League qualification with a game in hand over fourth-placed Man City and just one point to make up.There’s a perception that Newcastle are far stronger at St James’ Park but Eddie Howe’s side rank fourth for points earned on the road this season.Read More on The SunOur Prediction: 3-0 to NewcastleProve you know better by entering your predictions for Matchweek 26 now!Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

MANCHESTER UNITED have been a one-man team for much of the season.This description is certainly fair in the realm of Dream Team, where Bruno Fernandes (£7m) is 125 points ahead of his closest team-mate.Fernandes has excelled despite Man United’s troublesCredit: ReutersThe Portugal international has been on a roll of late having amassed 101 points from his last seven outings!As a result, Fernandes has become the game’s leading midfielder by a wide margin with only superstar forwards Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) and Erling Haaland (£7.8m) above him in the overall rankings.Any Dream Team manager worth their salt would have recognised the 30 year-old playmaker as an excellent option and he’s currently the third-most selected asset in his position.Fernandes seems well placed to deliver further returns in the coming weeks.The Red Devils travel to Nottingham Forest this evening and will then be one of just five teams to fulfil four fixtures across Gameweeks 30 and 31: Manchester City (h), Lyon (a), Newcastle (a), Lyon (h).Fernandes is head and shoulders above his team-mates right nowCredit: GettyIt’s not a favourable set of games by any means but the fact Ruben Amorim’s side remain active in Europe means they have more point-scoring opportunities than the vast majority of teams this month.And so the question must be asked: is Fernandes really the only viable Man United player at this moment in time?The next-best performer in the squad is Alejandro Garnacho (£3.4m) with 220 points to his name.Most read in FootballAll things considered, that’s a good return from the Argentine winger, one that puts him 12th among midfielders at the time of writing.However, the 20-year-old can be a frustrating asset to own at times.Garnacho blows hot and cold but is certainly capable of providing pointsCredit: GettyGarnacho ranks first in his position for shots on target but just 14th for goals, evidence of inefficiency in front of goal.In terms of playmaking, the opposite is true as he ranks joint-fourth for assists among midfielders but just joint-35th for big chances created, suggesting his team-mates really have made the most of his relatively limited creative output.Garnacho is a curious player for sure, one who occasionally leaves points unclaimed, but it’s simply a fact that he returned 32 points in four appearances just prior to the international break.This fruitful run featured a goal and three assists.Fernandes is undoubtedly the best attack-minded option in Man United’s ranks but doubling up is a viable strategy for the next two Gameweeks at least and Garnacho seems to be best accomplice for such an approach.Dalot has earned 188 pointsCredit: PAIt may surprise some Dream Team bosses to learn that Diogo Dalot (£3.4m) is among the top ten defenders in the game.Despite Man United’s problems as a collective this season, the Portuguese wing-back has contributed seven goal involvements on top of ten clean sheets – he ranks highly for tackles too.Not as highly as Noussair Mazraoui (£3.2m) though, who has racked up 131 tackles in all competitions – the highest tally among all players.The Morocco international is just three points shy of Dalot overall.Only David Raya and Emi Martinez have more points among goalkeepers this seasonCredit: AFPThen there’s Andre Onana (£3.4m), who ranks third among goalkeepers despite the fact he’s conceded a whopping 52 goals in all competitions this season.The former Inter custodian has made 107 saves, a total only bettered by Mark Flekken (£3.4m) and Emi Martinez (£3.9m).Read More on The SunIt’s understandable if gaffers feel reluctant to back Man United’s defensive assets with Man City, Lyon (x2) and Newcastle in the diary but the Stats Centre suggest Dalot, Mazraoui and Onana are worthy of consideration.Things might get really interesting if Fernandes and company progress to last four of the Europa League, especially if the other English clubs still active in Europe are eliminated at the quarter-final stage.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

BUKAYO SAKA (£6.6m) is set to return and that’s no April Fool’s hoax.Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta told reporters that Arsenal’s No7 is “ready to go” and may even be fit enough to start against Fulham tonight.Saka averages 9.3 points-per-game this seasonCredit: Dream TeamNeedless to say, Dream Team managers worldwide should have their eyes fixed on the Emirates this evening as Saka’s comeback would be a game-changing moment.The England winger was among the game’s top performers throughout the first half of the season when he plundered 224 points via nine goals and 15 assists.Despite the fact he’s been sidelined since Christmas, Saka remains the Gunners’ top points scorer and still ranks joint-eighth among all midfielders.Furthermore, Bruno Fernandes (£7m) is the only player in his position to have provided more assists while team-mate Declan Rice (£4.8m) is the only midfielder to have created more big chances.Perhaps the most telling statistic is that runaway leader Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) is the only man who averages more points-per-game in 2024/25.Saka has been pictured in training this weekCredit: GettyThis is all to say that Saka is a top-tier Dream Team asset.At this moment in time, the 23-year-old is the most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 30 and any showing of note against the Cottagers will surely cement that status.Arteta’s positive update comes at an intriguing time as Arsenal are one of just five teams set to fulfil four fixtures across the next two Gameweeks.Most read in FootballIn Gameweek 30, they will travel to Everton in the league before welcoming Real Madrid to North London for the first leg of a highly-anticipated Champions League quarter-final.In Gameweek 31, Arsenal are due to host Brentford before flying to the Spanish capital.If Saka’s surgically repaired hamstring allows him to start all four fixtures then he has to be considered one of the best options in the game this month.Arteta rarely rests Saka if the winger is availableCredit: APSuch is his pedigree, it’s no exaggeration to say that the divide between Dream Team bosses who eagerly recruit Saka and those who delay the transfer may be the strategic decision that defines the business end of the campaign.If he immediately picks up where he left off and returns close to 40 points across the next two Gameweeks then hesitant gaffers will be severely punished.However, if Saka’s workload is managed and it takes him some time to get back up to speed – which would be understandable after three months out – then the early adopters might end up regretting their keenness.An impressive performance against Fulham this evening would prompt major activity – over to you, Bukayo!Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More